This message was edited on
May 07, 2012 at
02:24:12 AM by OCRS-PR
Smith ends
drought with victory at Mid-America
Takes over series points lead from Passmore
Story by John Rittenoure
Photo by Phil Pace
South
Coffeyville, Oklahoma (May 5, 2012) - For
Danny Smith, Saturday night's Oil Capital Racing Series run to the "Goodyear
Tire & Rubber Co. Championship" event at the Mid-America Speedway
marked a new beginning.
Smith last
visited victory lane on August 14, 2010 at Lawton Speedway. But the year that
followed was full of obstacles. Smith was injured in the 2010 season finale at
Enid Speedway then an off track accident forced him to miss five shows in 2011.
But Saturday night, Smith served notice he was back by leading
the final six laps of the 25-lap feature to post his first OCRS victory in 29
events. However, a pair of young drivers were making their presence
known and appeared on the verge of a 1-2 finish. Fred Mattox started on the
pole after winning his heat and the pole dash. Young Terry Easum, who was
making his first OCRS start since July 2010, ran second in the dash and started
the main event outside front row next to Mattox.
When the green
dropped on the third OCRS event of 2012, Mattox quickly checked out with the
early lead over Easum in second. But inexperience caught up with Mattox nine
laps into the 25 lapper. Mattox found himself facing lapped traffic and made
contact with Jeremy Allen in turn three. The two became locked together and
spun to a stop forcing a yellow. That gave Easum the lead while Mattox made a
pass through the pits and returned to the rear of the lineup.
When the race resumed,
Easum took his turn setting the pace as defending series champion Sean
McClelland was battling for second. Smith, who started seventh, was on the move
and finally got past McClelland and set his sights on Easum. On lap 19, Smith
saw his opportunity and gassed his Same Day Auto number 5$ under Easum to take
a lead he would not give up. "It was slick down low and they were sliding
up," Smith said of the track conditions that made it tough to run down
low. "I just adjusted my line accordingly."
Smith's
patience paid off not only with a victory, but moved him into the series points
lead over three-time champion Jamie Passmore who had swept the first two events
and built up a 44-point lead. Passmore was forced to run the B feature after a
very slick track in the heat races left him with a seventh place finish. The
former champ worked his way to a third place transfer finish behind B feature winner
Whit Gastineau and second place Kyle Clark to earn an A feature starting
position. But after nine laps, Passmore had to pit and was not allowed to
return. He was credited with a 20th place finish.
When the
checkered finally fell, McClelland was running in second leaving Easum with a
very respectable third place finish. Brian McClelland finished fourth after
starting eighth and Casey Wills rounded out the top five. It was a great run
for Wills who won the second heat and ran third in the dash to earn a second
row inside starting position in the main.
The next OCRS event is Saturday, May 12th at the Oklahoma
Sports Park in Ada Oklahoma for the fourth running of the Harold Leep, Jr.
Memorial. Track information can be viewed at:
Oklahoma Sports Park: www.oklahomasportspark.com
Heat winners were:
M&W
Aluminum Heat: Fred Mattox
Bob Hurley Auto
Family Heat:
Casey Wills
Drive Shafts
Inc. Heat:
Alex Sewell
Car & Fleet
Parts Heat:
Tim Kent
AmeriFlex Hose
& Accessories “Hard Charger” recipient went to Johnny Kent
Wesmar Racing
Engines
B-Feature winner: Whit Gastineau.
Grand Prix Auto, Lightning Wings, Keizer Aluminum Wheels,
Schoenfeld Mufflers, Brodix Cylinders and PM-Pro are sponsors who also
contribute to the OCRS sprint car series.
WWW.OCRSRACING.COM
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